Rooney's fire adds passion to hollow win

The hottest day of the year and the football season arrives. What could be more natural in the perverse, looking-glass world of the Premiership where £30m players are transferred for £2m, the former England manager gets a job and promptly signs nine foreigners, and £100,000-a-week footballers turn out for charity, and the punters are the ones dipping their hands into their pockets?

While the cash raised for good causes renders the occasion valid, the Community Shield is meaningless as a guide to the season. Only once in the last 11 seasons has the victor gone on to lift the title, Chelsea in 2005-06. It offers clues, but also red herrings. Last season's defeat of Liverpool by Chelsea was notable for a misleadingly sharp goal by Andrei Shevchenko, and an indicative lack of communication between Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack.

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Not that this background meant yesterday's match lacked spice. There is too much history between the teams. If anything it was more competitive – and more watchable – than the FA Cup final the duo contested in May. These two superstar bands had, between them, performed in seven countries in three different continents during their pre-season build-ups but any suspicion that this was a prolongation of Wembley's rock concert season was dispelled when Ashley Cole clattered into Cristiano Ronaldo in the first minute.

Wayne Rooney certainly lacked no motivation, but he never does. His competitive spirit will burn fiercely when he is having a back garden kick-about with his grandchildren. He and Ronaldo both looked in ripe form, taking players on at will and interchanging neatly. And Manchester United have Carlos Tevez, Anderson and Nani, who made a cameo appearance yesterday, in reserve.

Nevertheless, the old stager Ryan Giggs suggested he will continue to be a telling influence whatever the influx of talent. The will o' the wisp wing wizard and teen idol has matured into a very good all-round footballer with a greyhound's physique that belies his 34 years. Giggs's goal was set up by a new, unexpected, contender for the left-flank role in which he came to prominence. Patrice Evra is a full-back but one would never have guessed it from the impressive shift he put in playing further forward. Left-backs used to be afterthoughts, but Roberto Carlos showed they can be key players in the modern game, with its tight midfields, and Evra could be an important player this year.

The goal, incidentally, was Giggs's first in 17 appearances at Wembley. The last time he scored here was for England schoolboys, as Ryan Wilson, before he took his mother's surname.

Giggs had been denied what United argued was a legitimate goal in the FA Cup final, the ball going over the line only for Giggs, who himself appeared to be fouled, to be penalised for sliding into Petr Cech.

Maybe that memory helped fire United, they appeared marginally more committed than Chelsea. Not that the distinction will mean anything when the real action starts. More significant were the poise of midfield anchor John Obi Mikel, the quality of Florent Malouda and the excellence of Cech. Mikel is still young, and remains prone to the occasional rough tackle, but his temperament is improving while his positional play and use of the ball suggests Claude Makelele might be advised to move.

Cech's absence last season was as much a factor as John Terry's injuries and with the latter again on the casualty list the keeper's fitness is vital. He was unable, though, to save Chelsea when it came down to penalties. But why does there have to be a winner? The Shield means little, except to Jose Mourinho who counts it among his trophies. It would surely be more in keeping with the spirit of community for the two sides to share it, as was originally the case. Modern football, however, is not very good at sharing. Divvying up the spoils yes, but not sharing.